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BASKETBALL TIMES Visit: www.usbwa.com March 2013 VOLUME 50, NO. 3 Hall of Fame welcomes Bilovsky, Lopresti, Rawlings Frank Bilovsky made his bones in the “I scrolled down … scrolled down … Big Five’s heyday. Mike Lopresti was born scrolled down,” Wieberg says, “until I’d read and raised in Indiana, where he has spent his through it, and then looked at him. ‘Bleep entire professional career. Lenox Rawlings you,’ I said. I couldn’t have written anything grew up in the Tobacco Road neighborhood, half as good if I’d had hours or even days to worked a brief spell elsewhere and returned think it through.” to become a regional icon. It’s hard to imagine anyone saying It’s not a requirement for USBWA Hall “Bleep you” to Rawlings, who retired in of Fame inductees to be rooted in the na- December after 34 years writing sports col- tion’s most fertile hoops soil. But when great umns for the Winston-Salem Journal, where journalism talent lives among great subject his work was must-read material for anyone matter, the resulting body of work winds up remotely interested in the ACC. He previ- a slam dunk for election. ously worked in Raleigh, Greensboro and At age 13 in rural Pennsylvania, Bi- Atlanta. lovsky was smitten by college basketball Frank Bilovsky Mike Lopresti Lenox Rawlings A graduate of North Carolina, Rawlings when Lebanon Valley College from nearby never played favorites as he wrote about Annville was invited to the 1953 NCAA tournament. The ism start at his hometown newspaper, the Palladium-Item, some of college ball’s hottest rivalries, and he never shied Flying Dutchmen defeated Fordham before falling to Bob while a high school student in Richmond, Ind., where he still from criticizing whoever and whatever deserved rebuke. Pettit and LSU. Lebanon Valley? How great a story was that? lives. He worked for the P-I until joining the startup crew for That approach might have angered a few coaches and more “That was my baptism,” Bilovsky says. “My confirma- USA Today in 1982. Atlanta will mark his 34th Final Four. than a few boosters. But Rawlings’ way with words dis- tion was the Big Five, when I went to La Salle.” Hall of Famer and former longtime Gannett colleague armed them and his honesty commanded respect. And it was He graduated in 1962, got hired by the late Philadelphia Steve Wieberg tells a story that wraps Lopresti’s gifts in a just damn difficult to argue with his demeanor. Bulletin a year later and was assigned to cover the Big Five. tight package. The Soviets had just defeated Team USA in “An old-style, Southern gentleman,” wrote the Salis- His prose told the story of those doubleheaders at the Palestra the 1988 Olympics semifinals, their first meeting since the bury Post’s Mike London, who got Rawlings’ style exactly until the Bulletin’s demise in 1982. infamy of Munich ‘72. Lopresti had barely finished his game right in one word: “Elegant.” “Frank played a huge role in transforming the Big Five story for the news service when he was informed USA Today Bilovsky, reflecting on his own career, could have been into a Philadelphia institution and the Palestra into a national wanted a column from him, too – and, oh, he had 20 minutes. speaking for all three inductees when he said, “I’ve led a landmark,” Hall of Famer Dick “Hoops” Weiss says. Lopresti tapped out the column on his primitive laptop, charmed life.” A national sportswriting landmark is what Lopresti’s then puffed up the stairs to ask Wieberg for a quick read “to Yes, and basketball fans who’ve read our three honor- column has become in USA Today. Lopresti got his journal- make sure there’s nothing in there that’s stupid or wrong.” ees’ handiwork are the beneficiaries. These vice-presidents put in overtime, and then some Typically, the offseason duties of a USBWA vice-presi- plays well not only in Peoria. Kirk’s a big-time talent who’s down-sizing and defunct newspapers – the deepest of appre- dent are … nothing. I spent three offseasons in the role, and I as mid-major as Mark Few, Brad Stevens or Shaka Smart. ciation for this profession that we represent. cannot remember ever being asked to do a single thing. When the NCAA asked who should be given first dibs They pushed and pulled each other – and Joe and I, as It was with that knowledge that Kirk Wessler, Dana on any courtside seats that might be saved for us, ESPN. well – and filled in when necessary. Wessler’s firm rebuttal O’Neil and Frank Burlison were informed early last sum- com’s O’Neil was the first to stand up for the participating to the NCAA following our meeting in Indianapolis set just mer that Joe Mitch and I had learned that the right tone that enabled us to salvage what the NCAA again had its eyes on the media’s courtside seats we could. O’Neil took the courtside seats. We didn’t know when, or point on several subsequent issues. to what extent, but we knew that with Greg Without these three, we not only would Shaheen no longer in charge of the NCAA be without any courtside seats this tourna- Tournament, changes for us were in store. John Akers ment, but the entirety of our media seating That was all they needed to hear. The would be tucked away in end-zone seating. next few months included several hour-long This wasn’t the presidency that I had teleconferences among us that led to each of Basketball Times envisioned. Hopes of somehow bridging the them taking a day out of their busy schedules gap between SIDs and beat writers got side- for our September meeting with the NCAA tracked. Given the manpower that was put in Indianapolis. Throughout it all, their only President into the seating issue instead, we might also complaints were directed at an organization have restored print media guides, created that believed it somehow made sense to in- better access to players and negotiated that hibit our ability to tell the story of their game. teams’ beat writers. She also was easily the most tenacious of long-awaited Creedence Clearwater Revival reunion. The vice-presidents provided the perfect blend of per- the group, blessed with an ability to express her outrage and Plenty of issues still remain. The best of news is that I sonalities and talents. indignation without making it personal. The next person who write this, my final column as the USBWA president, know- Wessler has the touch of a columnist with the admin- claims to dislike Dana will surely be the first. ing that the hardest-working bunch of vice-presidents will istrative experience of a sports editor – a combination that Burly brought passion and – significant in these days of step up and take them on, all year long if necessary. BASKETBALL TIMES The United States Basketball Writers Association USBWA continuing relationship 803 Wildview Lane; Manchester, Mo. 63021 Visit us at: www.usbwa.com 314-795-6821; Fax: 314-444-4333 with Naismith Hall of Fame The USBWA is pleased PRESIDENT – John Akers, Basketball Times; to welcome back the Nai- H: 704-849-8627; C: 980-422-1294; smith Memorial Basketball [email protected]. Hall of Fame as sponsor of FIRST VICE PRESIDENT – Kirk Wessler, the association’s Best Writ- Joe Mitch Peoria Journal-Star; O: 309-686-3216; ing Contest. H: 309-673-5816; C: 309-256-9093; After a brief hiatus as USBWA [email protected]. sponsor of the writing con- SECOND VICE PRESIDENT – Dana O’Neil, test, the Hall of Fame has espn.com; C: 215-313-3425; committed to a three-year Executive Director [email protected]. sponsorship agreement THIRD VICE PRESIDENT – Frank Burlison, with the USBWA. C: 310-717-5942; [email protected]. “We are proud to re- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – Joe Mitch, new our partnership with the USBWA,” said John Doleva, from other Halls of Fame,” Doleva said. “We address all H: 636-227-9113; C: 314-795-6821; president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. aspects of the game. It’s total representation. We recognize [email protected]. The Hall of Fame’s sponsorship provides funding for the entire game.” WEBMASTER – Ted Gangi, cash awards and plaques that are given annually to contest To be inducted into the Hall, an individual must re- C: 214-909-9314; [email protected]. winners in each of five categories (columns, spot news, in- ceive 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee. Five spe- BOARD MEMBERS vestigative reporting, moderate-length feature and maga- cial committees deal with specialized categories such as DISTRICT I – Matt Vautour, Daily Hampshire zine-length stories). international basketball, early African-American pioneers, Gazette, [email protected]. The Hall of Fame also serves – along with ESPN – players and coaches from the old ABA and contributors. DISTRICT II – Kevin Armstrong, New York Daily as a sponsor of the USBWA awards breakfast held on the In addition to those being inducted and introduced at News; C: 845-323-8129; [email protected]. morning of the national championship game at the NCAA this year’s Final Four, the Hall also will announce the re- DISTRICT III – Steve Wiseman, Durham men’s Final Four. cipients of the Curt Gowdy Herald-Sun; O: 919-419-6671; The USBWA is also Award for print and elec- H: 919-387-9848; C: 919-768-3933; working with Doleva to tronic excellence.